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Waterloo 200 Anniversary Anecdotes

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I would like to share an anecdote about Waterloo 200 with you from the $bookTitle$ book.
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william Openshaw

| 13 Jul 2018

Robert Openshaw was born in Little Lever, Lancs, in 1778. A weaver by trade he enlisted into the 1st Batt. 52nd Regiment on April 23rd 1805, aged 27. He served in Sicily before being sent to the Peninsula, taking part in the retreat to Corunna. In Feb - March 1809 he is listed as being sick onboard a hospital ship in Portsmouth. By May he embarked backed to Portugal and in July was promoted to Corporal after the 50 mile in 22 hrs march to Talavera. He remained with the 1st Batt until taking sick in April 1811 and sent to Lisbon before joining the 2nd Batt. He was with them until March 1815 when he returned to the 1st Batt and fought at Waterloo. He remained as part of the army of occupation until 1818. He was finally discharged from the Regiment in 1823 as they prepared for North America. He was described as 'worn out'. He died in 1826, unmarried.

In 2015, I had the honour to take part in the 200th re enactment of Waterloo. Our brigade played the part of the 52nd wheeling to face the Imperial Guard. These men should be forever remembered.